TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – In a critical playoff matchup, quarterback Baker Mayfield took center stage both on the field and at the postgame press conference. Despite flashes of brilliance this season, the Buccaneers’ season ended in disappointment after a loss to the Washington Commanders. Mayfield, known for his grit and accountability, didn’t shy away from taking ownership of the team’s missed opportunities.

“It comes back to me just timing it up correctly,” said Mayfield, referring to a fumble on a jet sweep play deep in their own territory. “The timing of it, not great. Being backed up, defense had just done a hell of a job getting us the ball. Another fourth-down stop, and, yeah, unfortunate, but that falls on me.”

The Buccaneers struggled offensively, managing only seven possessions during the game. Penalties and missed third-down conversions plagued the first half, limiting the team’s ability to establish a rhythm. “In the second quarter, the penalties didn’t help us out, getting into longer yardage situations. We weren’t helping ourselves out,” Mayfield added.

Despite these challenges, the Bucs’ defense kept the team in the game with several key stops, including a crucial fourth-down stand. Offensively, the team capitalized briefly with a two-minute drill to tie the game at halftime, but inconsistency returned in the second half.

Mayfield admitted that the offense’s inability to capitalize on defensive efforts proved costly: “Not doing all the little things right will always come back to beat you in playoff mode because you’re always playing a good team in the playoffs, and they’re going to capitalize. They did that.”

One of the game’s turning points came late when a mistimed snap on second-and-one at the goal line resulted in another missed opportunity. “We were trying to get them to jump offsides. I think Graham [Barton] thought they did or were in the neutral zone,” explained Mayfield. The miscommunication underscored the team’s lack of execution in high-pressure moments.

Reflecting on the season as a whole, Mayfield acknowledged both the disappointment and the growth the team experienced. “It’s disappointing overall because I believe in this team,” he said. “But looking back, you try to take a step back and see the big picture. This group fought. A lot of young guys stepped up into huge roles. That should build confidence for them moving forward.”

As the Buccaneers look ahead, the team faces significant decisions in the offseason, including roster adjustments and potential coaching changes. Mayfield, known for his competitive fire, will likely use this season as fuel for improvement.

What’s Next for Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers?

1. Rebuilding Offensive Cohesion: Improving execution in critical moments will be a primary focus.
2. Roster Changes: Key players stepping into larger roles signal a potential shift in team dynamics.
3. Coaching Adjustments: Evaluations will determine how the team can maximize talent moving forward.
4. Mayfield’s Leadership: As a veteran, Baker Mayfield’s offseason preparation will set the tone for 2025.
5. Redemption Ahead: With playoff lessons learned, the Buccaneers aim to come back stronger next season.

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Todd Bowles spoke candidly during the postgame press conference following the team’s narrow 23-20 Wildcard Playoff loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday night. Bowles addressed critical defensive struggles, offensive miscues, and his outlook for the team’s future.

Defensive Struggles and Key Plays
When asked about the defense’s inability to stop Washington on critical downs, Bowles acknowledged the challenge. “Defensively, that’s where it was. He [Jayden Daniels] was making some plays with his feet. We were in position, but he out-athleted us,” Bowles said. The Buccaneers allowed a concerning 55% third-down conversion rate.

Bowles also touched on the struggles with in-routes and breakdowns in coverage. “Some of them were scrambles, and we lost our guys. On the last one, we had bad positioning from the start.”

A costly fumble near their own goal line further shifted momentum in Washington’s favor. “We were supposed to run a jet sweep, but something got discombobulated. We can’t give up field position like that,” Bowles lamented.

Offensive Woes and Penalties
Offensively, penalties and turnovers stifled the Buccaneers’ rhythm. “We were shooting ourselves in the foot on first down with a lot of penalties in the first half,” Bowles explained. Despite the struggles, wide receiver Mike Evans continued to shine, even in a tough matchup against Marshon Lattimore. “Mike’s effort and what he continues to do for us is amazing,” Bowles praised.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield’s late-game turnover was another critical moment. Bowles expressed unwavering support for his quarterback, saying, “He’s your bell cow. We wouldn’t even be here without Baker.”

Rookie Spotlight: Jayden Daniels
Washington’s rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels proved to be a thorn in Tampa Bay’s side. Bowles was not surprised by his poised performance. “He has no conscience. He’s a heck of a player and lives in the moment. He lived in it every game this year,” Bowles noted.

What’s Next for the Buccaneers?
Despite the loss, Bowles remains optimistic about the team’s future. “We have a great core group going forward. Just got to keep people healthy, add to it, and clean up some spots,” he said. He emphasized the need to improve situational football and create more turnovers, areas where the team struggled this season.

As the Buccaneers head into the offseason, the focus will be on getting key players like Antoine Winfield Jr. back to full strength and reinforcing both the offensive and defensive units. “We’ve got to eat it, take it on the chin, and we’ve got to get better in the future,” Bowles concluded.

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J Willie David, III
Florida National News and FNN News Network
sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

– The Buccaneers fell to the Commanders, 23-20, to end their season. The 49^th season in Buccaneers history resulted in the club extending its franchise record for consecutive postseason berths to five and extending its record for consecutive division titles to four. The Buccaneers remain one of just three teams to have made the playoffs in each of the last five seasons (2020-24).

– QB Baker Mayfield completed 15-of-18 passes (83.3%) for 185 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions to earn a 146.5 passer rating. The 146.5 passer rating is the highest in a postseason contest in franchise history, and the ninth-highest mark by any quarterback in a postseason contest dating back to 2000. Mayfield has recorded a passer rating of 100.0+ in three of his five career postseason contests, and his career postseason passer rating of 105.9 leads all active quarterbacks (min. two games).

HIGHEST SINGLE-GAME PASSER RATING – FRANCHISE POSTSEASON HISTORY

Rank Player Passer Rating

1. Baker Mayfield (1/12/25 vs. WAS) 146.5

2. Tom Brady (2/7/21 vs. KC) 125.8

3. Baker Mayfield (1/15/24 vs. PHI) 119.8

4. Tom Brady (1/16/22 vs. PHI) 115.2

5. Tom Brady (1/9/21 vs. WAS) 104.3

HIGHEST POSTSEASON PASSER RATING – ACTIVE PLAYERS (MIN. 2 GP)

Rank Player Passer Rating

1. Baker Mayfield (TB) 105.9

2. Patrick Mahomes (KC) 105.8

3. Josh Allen (BUF) 102.3

4. C.J. Stroud (HOU) 102.2

5. Matthew Stafford (LAR) 101.7

– Mayfield’s 83.3% completion rate marked the highest by a Buccaneers quarterback in postseason history, and is the second-highest figure in a postseason contest (min. 15 attempts) dating back to 2012.

HIGHEST SINGLE-GAME COMPLETION PCT. – FRANCHISE POSTSEASON HISTORY

Rank Player Comp. Pct.

1. Baker Mayfield (1/12/25 vs. WAS) 83.3%

2. Tom Brady (1/16/22 vs. PHI) 78.4%

3. Tom Brady (2/7/21 vs. KC) 72.4%

HIGHEST SINGLE-GAME COMPLETION PCT. – SINCE 2012

Rank Player Comp. Pct.

1. Josh Allen (BUF – 1/15/22 vs. NE) 84.0%

2. Baker Mayfield (TB – 1/12/25 vs. WAS) 83.3%

3. Jared Goff (DET – 1/14/24 vs. LAR) 81.5%

4. Matt Moore (MIA – 1/8/17 at PIT) 80.6%

5. Deshaun Watson (HOU – 1/4/20 vs. BUF) 80.0%

– WR Mike Evans brought in a team-leading seven receptions for 92 yards and one receiving touchdown. With his score, Evans tied Leonard Fournette (6) for the second-most touchdowns from scrimmage in franchise playoff history, and surpassed Fournette (32) for the second-most playoff points scored by a non-kicker in franchise history.

MOST TOUCHDOWNS FROM SCRIMMAGE – FRANCHISE POSTSEASON HISTORY

Rank Player TD’s

1. Mike Alstott 7

2t. Mike Evans 6

2t. Leonard Fournette 6

4. Rob Gronkowski 3

5t. Many Players Tied 2

MOST POINTS SCORED (NON-KICKER) – FRANCHISE POSTSEASON HISTORY

Rank Player Points

1. Mike Alstott 42

2. Mike Evans 38

3. Leonard Fournette 36

– RB Bucky Irving contributed 83 scrimmage yards and one score on the day. He logged 17 carries for 77 yards (4.5 avg.), establishing a new single-game high for rushing yards by a rookie in franchise playoff history and surpassing the previous mark of 72 set by Warrick Dunn on 12/28/97 vs. Detroit. Irving added six receiving yards, including four on a touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield to record his first career touchdown catch (regular season or postseason).

– Irving’s 77 rushing yards are the most by a rookie in a playoff game since Kansas City’s Isiah Pacheco amassed 95 yards on 1/21/23 vs. Jacksonville.

– TE Cade Otton brought in two catches for 32 yards. In doing so, Otton surpassed Cameron Brate (221) and Rob Gronkowski (226) for the most playoff receiving yards by a tight end in franchise history.

– LB Lavonte David finished with a team-high-tying eight tackles and 1.0 sack. His sack increased his career postseason total to 3.0 – the fifth-most in franchise history. David ranks second in franchise history in postseason tackles (79), trailing only Derrick Brooks (93).

– S Antoine Winfield Jr. also contributed a team-high-tying eight tackles.

– DL Calijah Kancey finished with one tackle (that went for a loss). He has recorded at least one TFL in each of his three career playoff games, tied with Derrick Brooks and Greg Spires for the third-longest streak by a Buccaneer in franchise history, trailing only Devin White (four) and Shelton Quarles (four).

– K Chase McLaughlin went 2-for-2 on field goal tries, connecting from 50 and 32 yards out. McLaughlin is 6-of-7 on postseason field goal attempts with Tampa Bay, with his six made field goals ranking third in club history. His two made field goals from 50+ yards out in playoff contests are the most in franchise history.